Sailing RYA National Sailing Scheme

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Sailing RYA National Sailing Scheme
Start Sailing Level 1
Colin Legget
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The RYA National Sailing Scheme
Sailing with Spinnakers
Performance Sailing
Day Sailing
Start Racing
Seamanship Skills
Level 2
Level 1
DINGHIES KEELBOATS MULTI HULLS
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Clothing Equipment
Qualities of inner layers? Qualities of outer
Layers?
The extremities are important!
Advantages disadvantages of a wetsuit?
Specialist equipment!
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Clothing Equipment
The importance of personal buoyancy
Differences between a buoyancy aid a
lifejacket? When to wear it!
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Parts of a Boat
Single handed dinghy (Laser Pico)
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Parts of a Boat
Single handed dinghy (Laser Pico)
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Parts of a Sail
Traditional triangle sail
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Parts of a Sail
Traditional triangle sail
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Rigging the Boat
Spars and Rigging
A spar is a round timber or metal pole used on
sailing boats. Masts, booms, gaffs, or yards are
all examples of spars. Rigging denotes a boat's
apparatus of spars (including both masts and
yards), sails and cordage, by which the force of
the wind is used to move the hull against the
resistance, and with the support, of the water.
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Wind Awareness
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Meteorology
What is an offshore wind? What causes on and
offshore winds? What is an onshore wind?
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Ropework
Figure of eight knot Stopper knot tied in the
end of a piece of rope to prevent it from passing
through an eye or a block.

• Cross the end over then under the standing part
  and
• Pass it through the loop made by the crossing
  turn. Leave a long tail for security and pull to
  tighten.

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Ropework
Round turn 2 half hitches Used to secure a
rope to an eye or a spar.

• Make a turn around the spar or through the ring
• Pass the end around the standing part and over
  itself, to form a half hitch
• Pass he end around the standing part and over
  itself again to form the second half hitch
• Pull the end and the standing part to tighten the
  knot.

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Ropework
Securing to a cleat
Take a full turn around the cleat, starting from
the nearest side and furthest point
Make around 3 full figure-of-eight turns
Finish by taking a full turn around the base of
the cleat
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
The points of sailing
Sailing across the wind Reaching? Sailing
toward the wind Beating? Sailing away from the
wind Running?
Bearing Away and Luffing Up
Port Tack Starboard Tack
The No-Go Zone
Close hauled all the way in Close reach Beam
reach half way out Broad reach Run all the
way out
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
Controlling speed
Sails power Presenting the sail to the wind
speed DEPOWER THE MAIN SAIL When to let the
sail out and When to pull it in To Slow the
Boat!
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
Lying-to
Why? Used when you wish to de-power the boat and
hold it at a constant angle to the wind whilst
floating free. Is more stable than simply
lying-to with both sails flapping. How? Select
a point with clear water down wind/tide On a
close reach, cleat the jib aback and fully ease
out the main Hold the tiller to leeward, and
raise the centreboard half way Maintain a good
lookout and beware of leeway!
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
Tacking centre mainsheet
Look over your shoulder and check that the area
is clear of other boats. Call Ready About to
warn the crew. The crew also checks that the area
is clear, uncleats the jib sheet and replies,
Ready. Call Lee-oh to tell the crew that the
turn is starting. Ease the tiller away from you,
the boom will start to move into the boat. As the
sail crosses the boat, hold the end of the tiller
extension ahead of you and move across the boat,
facing forward. Ease the sheet a little. Keep
looking forward and hold the tiller over until
the sail starts to fill on the other side. Turn
to sit down on the new side, holding the
extension behind your back. Once the boat is on
course, straighten the tiller, bring the hand
holding the mainsheet to the tiller hand and swap
hands on the sheet and extension. Trim the sails
as necessary. Tidy up the sheet falls.
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
Tacking aft mainsheet The difference Centre
mainsheet face forward and change hands after
the tack Aft mainsheet change hands first and
face aft during the tack Remember what foot
crosses over first? Note The crew should aim to
be in the middle of the boat at the same time as
the boom, release the jib sheet as the jib begins
to flap, and pull in on the new jib sheet when
the sail is on the other side of the boat.
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
Getting out of irons
REMEMBER PUSH PUSH then PULL PULL
When A Boat stops head-to-wind, usually during a
failed tack, it is in-irons. PUSH the tiller
away from you and push the boom away to back the
mainsail. The boat will move backwards and turn
away from the wind. Now pull on the tiller and
pull on the mainsheet to get the boat sailing
again.
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
Gybing centre mainsheet
Bear away until the jib hangs limply behind the
mainsail, then luff up onto a training run. Check
the area is clear and pull the boom off the
shroud. Ensure the centreboard is three quarters
up. Call Stand by to gybe. Swing the tiller
extension round to the leeward side. Place your
aft foot across the boat, moving to the
middle. Call Gybe-oh to warn the crew, then
push the tiller to windward. Watch the leech of
the mainsail just above the boom when it starts
to curl, the boat is on the point of gybing. Be
ready to duck under the boom and pull on the
mainsheet falls to start the boom swinging
across. As the boom crosses the centreline
smoothly centralise the tiller to stop the
turn. Move smartly across and sit down on the new
side, steering with the extension held behind
your back. Change hands on the extension and
mainsheet to finish the gybe. Trim the sails as
necessary. Tidy sheet falls.
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Sailing Techniques Manoeuvres
Gybing aft mainsheet
The difference Centre mainsheet face forward
and change hands after the tack Aft mainsheet
change hands first and face aft during the
tack Remember what foot crosses over
first? Note The crew should aim to be in the
middle of the boat as the boom swings across and
be ready to balance the boat after the turn.
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Launching Recovery
The boat trolley

• Always tie the bow of the boat to the trolley
  handle to prevent the boat sliding off
• Make sure the boat is sitting correctly on the
  supports
• Take care when moving a boat on a trolley
• Always look up to make sure the mast does not
  hit overhead obstructions such as power cables
• Be careful not to loose control on a slipway
  dont do it on your own if the boat is heavy
• Do not stand, or allow anyone to stand at the
  bottom of the boat on a slipway
• If the mainsail is hoisted, leave the kicking
  strap slack, and be aware of the wind direction
  and affect on sails.

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Launching Recovery
Leaving a windward shore
Launch the boat with sails hoisted. Push the bow
away and sheet in the jib as you climb aboard,
sailing away on a broad reach or run
Returning to a windward shore
Sail to windward, raise the centreboard and
rudder as the water gets shallower. Turn into the
wind and let out the sails to stop. Step over the
side when the water is shallow enough hold the
boat by the bow. Lower sails and take the boat
out of the water.
Leaving a lee shore
Hoist the jib ashore and hoist the main when
afloat hold the boat into the wind. Push off
and climb aboard quickly, steer onto a close
reach until away from the shore and in water deep
enough to lower the centreboard fully.
Returning to a lee shore
Approach the beach and turn head to wind just
offshore. Lower the mainsail and sail in under
the jib alone. What about singlehanders?
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Capsize Recovery
Helmsman and crew lower themselves into the water
between boat and sails. Make their way to the
stern and check the rudder is connected. Using
the mainsheet as a safety line, the helmsman
swims round to the centreboard and ensures it is
fully down. The crew finds the end of the upper
jib sheet and throws it over the hull to the
helmsman. Once he has the jib sheet, the
helmsman lets go of the mainsheet and climbs onto
the centreboard. The crew floats inside the boat,
holding onto a toe strap and ensuring the
mainsheet runs free. The helmsman stands with
his feet near the hull and leans back on the jib
sheet. The boat comes upright and scoops the crew
into the boat. The crew now help the helmsman in
over the side or stern.
Importance of staying with boat! Other
consideration?
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Capsize Recovery
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Sailing Theory Background
Rule of the Road

• Power boats head on

• Port tack gives way

• Drive on the starboard side

• Windward boat gives way

• Overtaking boat gives way

• Power boats crossing

• Power gives way to sail

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Colin Legget
HAPPY SAILING